RD157 - Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Item 304.K.1. – Progress Report on the Plan and Timeline for Downsizing Southeastern Virginia Training Center - June 30, 2012


Executive Summary:
Item 315.CC.1 of the 2009 Appropriation Act required the Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) (*1) to convene a state and community planning team and develop a timeline to transition, beginning in fiscal year 2010, 88 individuals living at Southeastern Virginia Training Center (SEVTC) to community services. The language is outlined below:

“The state and community planning team, under the direction of the commissioner, shall develop a timeline to appropriately transition 88 state facility consumers beginning in fiscal year 2010 to community services in the locality of their residence prior to admission or the locality of their choice after discharge or to another state facility if individual assessments and service plans have been completed, appropriate community housing is available and consumer choice has been considered. The commissioner shall provide the preliminary plan and timeline to the Governor and the General Assembly by July 1, 2009 and a progress report regarding the plan for resizing and rebuilding the facility by October 1, 2009 and quarterly thereafter until the new facility and community facilities have been constructed and are complete. The final report shall outline the location where patients are discharged and any cost savings associated with the facility resizing and community transition.”

This report is an update to the July 1, 2009 preliminary plan and timeline to downsize SEVTC from its census of 154 individuals on July 1, 2009.

The 2009 General Assembly also required DGS with the cooperation and support of DBHDS to rebuild and resize SEVTC to 75 beds beginning in fiscal year 2010:

"C-103.05. A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the following provisions shall be implemented:
1. The Department of General Services (DGS), with the cooperation and support of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS), shall rebuild and resize the Southeastern Virginia Training Center to a 75-bed facility to serve profound and severely disabled clients;
2. The Director, Department of Planning and Budget, shall transfer $23,768,000 of the amount appropriated in Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, 2008 Acts of Assembly, Special Session I for project 17458 (Repair/Replace Southeastern Virginia Training Center) for the purpose stated in paragraph A.1. of this item;
3. The Department of General Services, with the cooperation and support of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS), shall build, acquire, or renovate 12 community-based Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF/MR) and 6 MR Homes in Health Planning Region V. Priority should be given to projects which can be completed on existing state-owned property within Health Planning Region V;
4. The Director, Department of Planning and Budget shall transfer $8,438,160 of the amount appropriated in Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, 2008 Acts of Assembly, Special Session I for project 17457, (Repair/Replace Central Virginia Training Center) for the purpose stated in paragraph A.3. of this item."
The plan outlined in Appendix A measures the progress in meeting the expectations and goals outlined in the original plan. The plan seeks to reduce the number of individuals living at SEVTC from a census of 154 to 75 or fewer individuals in two fiscal years. This update shows modifications to the original estimated completion timelines. The original July 1, 2009 plan estimated a completion of community SEVTC construction before September 30, 2011. It is anticipated that SEVTC will reach a census of 75 beds or less, on or before January 2013.

Due to delays in negotiating Funding Agreements between DBHDS and the community services boards (CSBs)/local governments, construction of the community ICFs/MR homes and transition of residents to those homes will not be completed until December 30, 2012. This completion date is a change from the last quarterly update. The delay is due to issues related to preparation of the land on which the Virginia Beach homes will be built. As of the date of this report, all clearances had been received and construction is underway. Construction dates are listed in Table 1 [see full report for Table 1].

DBHDS has built in an extra three months for project completion due to the estimated length of time it takes to certify a community-based ICF/MR. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH), on behalf of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, certifies ICFs/MR to operate and average certification time takes between 3-6 months for completion. The certification process cannot move more quickly, but DBHDS is working with CSB partners to ensure they are ready to be certified on the first visit from Department of Health officials; this will minimize the certification window. A technical assistance workgroup has been formed to assist the local CSBs with preparation for community ICF/MR certification. This workgroup convened on March 10, 2010, and is anticipated to continue its work until all community ICFs/MR’s are certified by Virginia Department of Health.

Appendix A contains an update to the detailed plan and timelines to transition individuals to the community. The components and major milestones of the original plan were developed in consultation with the state and community planning team referenced in Item 315.CC.1, known as the SEVTC Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee met regularly from January 2009 until October 2010 when construction design and planning was completed. The Advisory Committee included SEVTC facility staff, individuals living at SEVTC, family members, CSB representatives, private providers, and other key stakeholders. (*2)
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(*1) Formerly the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services or DMHMRSAS.
(*2) Information about the Advisory Committee, members, and meeting minutes can be viewed at: http://www.dbhds.virginia.gov/10Budget/sevtc.htm